Car-step



(No Model.)

P. W. MILLER.

GAR STEP.

Patented Mar. 11

wuawl'oz Jim/2 W m 5513 flffoznm mQMdard m/ I UNITED STATES PATENT()FFICE,

FRANK NV. MILLER, OF BEAVER DAMS, NEW YORK.

CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,262, dated March11, 1890.

Application tiled October 31, 1889- Serial No. 328,798. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK WV. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,and aresident of Beaver Dams, in the county of Schuyler and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Steps;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the inven- -tion, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the tion of this invention and is a perspective view. Fig.2is a side view.

This invention has relation to adjustable steps for railway-cars,adapted to facilitate their use by passengers when at a station, whilepermitting them to be raised to an elevated position when the-cars aremoving; and the invention consists in the novel construction andcombination of drivers, as hereinafter set-forth.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A. designates the upper portionof the steps,

which is permanently secured to the platform and frame-work of the car,and 13 represents the adjustable section or lower step, which isprovided with lateral oblique arms 0, moving in oblique ways D on theouter walls of the sides E of the portion A. To the sides E are securedthe way-strips or guides D, which are of metal and are provided. withthe fiangelugs 61, which arepreferably removable and secured to saidways by bolts, and, projecting inward beyond the edges of theway-strips, serve to hold the slide-arms O of the adjustable step inposition, while permitting the ready removal thereof when desired. Themetallic arms 0 are horizontally extended and bent inward at theirlower' portions, as at C, to form broad bearings to which the lateraledges of the lower step-board B are securely fastened. Said arms arealso provided with extended ratchet ribs C, having the edge-tooth c attheir upper portions presented outward, as indicated, and adapted todrawings is a representa-' engage the ratchet-wheels F, which aresecured on the ends of a shaft E, which passes in rear of the upperstep-frame. By operating the ratchet-shaft the lower step is let down'or raised, as may be required. When in raised position, this lower stepcan be brought immediately under and in contact with the lower surfaceof the bottom step of the upper or fixed section A, so that there is noliability of a crevice being left between these two steps to causeaccident when the cars are in motion. The outer ratchet-wheel on theshaft F is provided with a concentric pinion F, also rigidly secured tosaid shaft and adapted to engage the toothed segment G of thesegment-lever G, which is provided with the longitudinal springslide-latch G", adapted to engage the inner or outer notch of thesegment-catch H, which is secured to an extension m oftheplatform-frame, the handle portion of said lever extending above saidframe, as indicated. The fulcrum-pin g of the segment-lever is pivotedin a bearing 9, secured to the front of the upper stepframe, saidbearing being set inward from and below that portion of the extension mto which the segment-catch is secured. When the cars are stopped at astation, the brakeman, taking hold of the segment-lever, releases itsspring-latch and pulls the segmentlever outward and downward, thisaction turning the ratchet-wheel to cause the adjustable step to descendin an oblique direction outward as well as downward, so that thestep-board B is brought to convenient position between the ground andthe bottom step of theippper section A. WVhen the cars start,

the brakeman should raise the adjustable ing pinions engaging saidratchet-ribs, and the hand-lever having a segmental rack or sectorengaging a third pinion on said shaft, said hand'lever having aspring-held detent or latch engaging a notched segment or catch, saidbottonrstep section adapted in its raised or elevated position to fitdirectly under and in contact With the under side of the bottom step ofthe said fixed top section, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK WV. MILLER. -Witnesses:

ARTHUR (J. WOODWARD, ROBT. F. MILLER.

